Star Trek IV: The Voyage HomeReleased: November 28, 1986

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STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME - film reviewBy Mark Geraghty

STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME was the most successful of the films featuring the cast from the original TV series. Financially, it was the only feature film to earn over $100 million at the US Box Office, finding a broader audience with less story emphasis on the science fiction element of 'Star Trek' and more on the social commentary that had made the show famous. In the case of STAR TREK IV, the story premise ask the audience to consider the actions that were taking place in the late 20th Century and the implications they may have for the future of Earth in hundreds of years time. In addition to the conservation appeal of the story, STAR TREK IV was released in conjunction with the original show's twentieth anniversary and public awareness about 'Star Trek' and its core characters was extremely high. The movie also had an internal appeal for fans who were eager to see where the continuing story told in STAR TREK II and STAR TREK III might venture in STAR TREK IV. High on the list for fans was Spock's health, who had literally be resurrected from the dead at the conclusion of the third film. Fortunately for fans, the success of Leonard Nimoy's directing debut on the previous film encouraged Paramount's management to endorse him for a second film and guaranteed his participation in front of the camera as well as behind it.

After the death and life of the previous two films, it was decided something a little lighter was required to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the STAR TREK franchise.

STAR TREK IV went into pre-production even before STAR TREK III had been released, with Paramount's offer for Nimoy to direct the film. In addition, Nimoy and the film's Producer - Harve Bennett - were asked by Paramount to develop the film's story. Initially, BEVERLY HILLS COP writer Daniel Petrie Jr was involved and then screen writing team Steve Meerson and Peter Krikes, but none of their combined efforts were considered appropriate. Meerson and Krikes were awarded a Screenplay credit by the Writers Guild when final screen credit submissions were made. However, it was Nicholas Meyer, the man who almost single-handedLY saved the franchise with STAR TREK II, that Nimoy and Bennett turned to, as the studio's urging, who helped craft a screenplay that captured what everyone in the production was seeking ... A well-crafted screenplay that involved a meaningful story and lightened the mood from the previous two movies.

Once Nicholas Meyer was on board the project, the script came together very quickly and allowed Nimoy to move forward to principal photography. It was this part of the project which marked a dramatic departure for the cast and crew, as STAR TREK IV embarked upon extensive on-location shooting. This was unique for a STAR TREK film, as the previous three films had been shot almost entirely on the sound-stages at Paramount Studios. Much of the on-location shooting took place in San Francisco, as the story called for access to whales and nuclear 'wessels' and the city provided both. The use of San Francisco also played well with fans, as it had been previously established that the city was the future home of 'Starfleet Command', a point that was used to good effect in the 23rd Century scenes from the film. With Leonard Nimoy assuredly at the helm, principal photography did everything it needed to do and wrapped with enough time for Nimoy to edit the film with Peter Berger, who went on to also edit STAR TREK V, STAR TREK: GENERATIONS and STAR TREK: INSURRECTION.

Nicholas Meyer talks about being brought in to help with the movie's screenplay

The story for STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME picks up a couple of months after the end of STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK, with the Command Crew of the former Starship Enterprise electing to end their Vulcan exile and return to Earth to face the punishment for their actions from the previous film. While not as vague as shown at the end of the third film, Spock is by no means back to his normal self and is working hard, under his mother's guidance, to restore his intellect and his capacity to exist among humans. Upon learning about the departure of his friends, Spock chooses to return to Earth with them. As they depart Vulcan in the converted Klingon 'Bird Of Prey', the group are unaware that Earth is under siege from an alien probe that is wreaking havoc with the planet's weather patterns.

Kirk and the crew realise that something is wrong when it becomes apparent that their are no Starfleet vessels in the vicinity of Earth. The crew receive a communication which carries an unusual signal that has been identified as causing Earth-wide chaos. Spock moves quickly to identify the signal and concludes that it matches the frequency and resonance of a Humpback Whale; a creature long since extinct from Earth. Spock suggests that there is a possibility to respond to the probe, but it would require time-travel. Kirk is quickly persuaded and he informs the crew of their plan. The 'Bird Of Prey' slingshots around the Sun and breaks free to create a time-travel stream, arriving sometime in the late 20th Century.